Clinton wants to enlist computers in fight against gun violence

By Judi Hasson

Feb 01, 2000

For the first time, President Clinton's budget to be released on Feb. 7 will include a $30 million proposal to use high-powered computers and software to chart gun violence and prevent it in and around public housing developments.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo said the program, which needs congressional approval, would be administered by HUD and would give local authorities money to computerize the mapping of gun violence and chart gun related incidents in a community.

"Gun violence remains a tragedy that kills and disables people every day," Cuomo said in a statement. "This new initiative funds common-sense steps that we should all be able to agree on to better protect our families and save lives."

If Congress approves funding the initiative, law enforcement agencies, public housing authorities and other groups would be eligible to compete for HUD grants to pinpoint gun violence.

Cuomo said public housing projects are especially vulnerable to gun violence, which kills 30,000 people a year.

Under the initiative, HUD would make awards to support state-of-the art computer tracking and mapping projects to build databases on gun-related crimes. The data would help communities and law enforcement respond to gun violence, he said.